I met my first user group way back in 1980 when, as a young snot-nosed kid, the pioneering members of the Amateur Computer Group of New Jersey helped teach me the basics of computers. Like the members of the now legendary Homebrew Computer Club in Silicon Valley, many of those early 80s members of the ACGNJ went on to pioneer much of what we now know as the personal computer industry.

As much as the computer industry has changed in the last 24 years, the helpful nature of user groups has not. In fact, it was with a sense of great satisfaction that I've recently had the honor to meet some of the members of the San Diego Outlook User Group.

Introducing the Answer Team
Like all user groups throughout history, the members of the San Diego Outlook User Group are dedicated to helping each other get the most out of their computing experience. But they're now taking that mission of support further: they've offered to become the Official OutlookPower Answer Team and answer your questions.

Have you gotten stuck or confused by Outlook or Exchange? Have you ever wanted an answer you couldn't figure out on your own? Now, you've got a way to get that question answered. Have you ever had a question like one of these:

• The information store could not be opened and I can't work offline. What do I do?
• I get the message, "Your maibox is over the size limit." How can I prevent this from happening?
• Outlook calendar reminders not working properly. They're giving reminders for past appoints or will not dismiss.
• Personal folders are missing.
• Personal folders will not expand or just show the clock when trying.
• Mail is stuck in my out box.
• A program is trying to access Outlook. What does this mean?
• Missing appointments. Where'd they go?
• I can't see my customized forms.

If you have, you're ready to Ask the Answer Team. All you need to do is compose your question and send it in to editor@outlookpower.com with the words "OUTLOOKPOWER ANSWER TEAM" in the subject line.

We'll pass your question on to the Answer Team at the San Diego Outlook User Group and if strikes one of the member's fancy, we'll publish the answer in an upcoming issue of OutlookPower.

So, get your thinking caps on and send in your questions. I think we'll all get to learn a whole lot more about Outlook and Exchange from this new series! And, if you happen to be in San Diego, make sure to stop in at the next meeting of the San Diego Outlook User Group.

Product availability and resources Submit your Outlook questions to editor@outlookpower.com with the words "OUTLOOKPOWER ANSWER TEAM" in the subject line. For more information on the San Diego Outlook User Group, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sdoutlookug.

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and can be reached via email at david@zatz.com.